Shoe



Aug. 21, 1945. J. H. EVRSTON 383,@52

SHOE

Filed June 26, 1943 l 5% JZ 3/ l lNvENToR l Joss/H /vf El/Eslbfv ATTORINIEYS.`

Aug- 21, 1945. J. HV. EVERSA-O'N 2,383,052

SHOE

Filed June ze, Yw45 s sheds-sheet 2 ATTOENEY Josem H. E1/4595701l Aug; 21, 1945. .1. H. l-:vERsToN 295583352' SHOE Filed June 26. 1943 54 Sheets-Sheet 5 wifi/liar f fw 5.6635 l?? .wm gzm f ATTGQNEYS.

Patented Aug. 21, 1945 f UNITED STATES PATENT i 22,383,052` V4 o j SHOE :TT Joseph Hvervston,MilwaukeaWia i o T Application June 12s, ioiaserial No. 492,340 l 13 colons. gotas-19.5) o

This invention relates to improvements in shoes,` The invention, in most of its aspects, has particular reference to the typeof shoe in which there isT aT glider ply which floats or `slides upon the upper surface of the insole. The present application is a continuationin part of, and asubvstitute for,my application of the same title filed April 8, 1943, Serial No. 482,256. T

One of thebroader objects of the invention is the provision o'fTa practicable .form ofshoe in which aT prefabricated floating, gliding unit can successfullybe used ina shoe of cement lasted construction. T T f f T 'I regardit as desirable that the prefabricated glider ply unit incorporate a cushion ply andr one or more coextensive plies of fabric, fiber, leather or plastic, the whole assembly being securedas a `una; to the insole at or near the shank; and ,preferably at the junctureof the shank with ,the bau or forepart of the shoe. T

For the purposes of some embodiments of the invention, there are important advantages in having the insole continuous from one end of the shoe to the other.` From thefstandpoint of some embodiments of the invention, there are important advantages'inhaving the thicknessV of the insole approximately uniform throughout the length ofthe shoe, particularly in that area of the insole to which the upper and lining are lasted (with the possible exception of 'skiving). `In several embodiments of the present invention,T itis glider unit` (this being particularly ornamental for open toedTshoes but `performing a mechanical function in securing the several plies unitarily together at. the toe) the provision of means whereby` the glider unitT may be made detachable if desired; the provision of a, glider unit inTwhich the connection `at the shank of the shoe provides orthopedic support;` `the T provision of T 4means whereby the shank stiffening metal `reenforcement is enclosed at itslower end between upper and lower cushioning means whereby itis pre-` vented `from cutting either the insole orT the out-T sole; the provision ofmeansl for facilitating the sliding action of the glider unit and assuring its movement with the feet; and manyother objects Fig. 8.

whichwillbe apparentlto those skilled in the art from the following disclosure of the invention. l 'InTthe drawings: T T w TT "Fig. 1T is a longitudinal vertical section through a ladys shoe embodying the invention inits preferred form. T o `li"ig..2 isa view inperspective ofthe insole'and attached glider unitassembly` as it appears as a separate"`articlefof"manufacture for use in the shoe`ofFlgfl. l l

appears" during lasting `before the outsole is apthe plane indicatedyin 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig.f`5 is an enlarged detail view inflongitudinal section through the forward end' of the gliderunit. Fig.T 6 Tis" a" view in "longitudinal vsection near the shank of the shoe illustratingTa slightmodication of the structure shown in Fig. 1. T

Fig; "1 isaviewnr a modified glider unites it would appearfragmentarily if viewed in section in the plane indicated at T-l in Fig." `2. Q

Fig. Slis aview'` in'perspective showing a somewhat modified glider unit and insolefassembly;l Fi`g."-9`isafrag`nientary detail viewmon a'nenlarged scale `taken insection onthe linea-L9` of Figs'.` T10, 11 and 12"are viewsin perspective showing further modied embodiments of the sub-a`ss`ernb`ly` T'cmprising the" glider unit T and insole, Fig( 10 showing "a detachable gliderunit partiallyturned back to expose the connection, and Fig. 12` showing the glider unit partially broken away to expose the underlying portion of the insole. o Q

Fig. 13 is a viewin longitudinal `section through aT `shoe `embodying T this invention andfexemplify# ing a slightly modified construction illustrating the application of the inventionfto the Sbicca construction. f Y i A 1 T Fig. l4is aview onan enlarged'scale taken in transverse section throughthe shoe of Fig. 13. o

Fig. 15 is a detail in perspective showing a two ply glider unit which may beused in any of the shoe constructions herein disclosed.` o

Fig. 16 is a viewsirilar to Fig. llshowing` a further nodied embodiment of the invention in 'which thetop ply ofthe prefabricated glider unit Ais'extended rearwardly to comprise the sock lining :and'serve as amean's offastening the prefabri-` -catedl glider unit into the shoe".

fchraters throughout the several views.

In the shoe illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the insole I5 is continuous from one end of the shoe to the other and, except as skived somewhat at I6, is substantially of uniform thickness throughout. From the shank rearwardly, the insole is preferably stiffened by a ber shank stiffening piece I'I along which there may extend a metal reinforcing member I8. This member may be between the piece I1 and the insole I5 (asin Fig. l) or it may lie beneath piece I1. between such piece and the outside (as in Fig. 3).

I prefer to fasten the lining I9 and upper 20 to the insole by cement, at least throughout the forward portion of the shoe, the lining and upper being lasted over the skived marginal portion I6 and cemented down as indicated in Fig. 3, wherein the stippling applied to that portion of the shoe in which the lining and upper are raised is intended to represent the cement.

It will be found possible, if the insole is marginally skived, to leave the lasted upper substantially flush with the bottom `of the insole, but in so far as there is any difference in level, the customary filler may be used at 2 I. At the shank and heel portions of the shoe, the upper and lining are preferably lasted by tacking at 22 to the fiber stiifening piece and the insole. The outsole 23 is preferably cement lasted in place. According to present practice, it may terminate in a skived margin 24 inserted into a notch at the forward thrust of the lheel 25. A screw 26 and nails at 21 through the insole into the heel will serve to retain the heel. The screw and nailheads may be covered by the usual sock lining at 28 which preferably extends forward over the shank portion of the shoe sufficiently far to cover the connection with the insole of the glider unit hereinafter to be described.v

The gliding unit fioats lon the insole in the forepart of the shoe, being connected with the insole only at the shank. It preferably, though not necessarily, incorporates a cushion. Where a cushion is used, special care is necessary to assure free movement of the gliding unit Aon the sole so that under the wearers weight it will move with the wearers foot instead of adhering to the sole.

For many reasons, the gliding unit should be fabricated'independently of the insole. In the first place, when so fabricated, it can more readily be constructed to assure its independent sliding movement upon the insole under load. In the second place, by prefabricating the gliding unit, the insole may be of standard construction. In the third place, it is important to the production of shoes of vthis character by commercial methods that the insoles, as well as the gliding units, be separately die cut.. Since they are necessarily of differing length, they cannot both be die cut unless they are separately fabricated. Accordingly, the present invention differs from prior attempts to provide sliding surfaces in the forepart of a shoe in that the present invention contemplates separately fabricating a gliding unit and thereafter stitching or otherwise fastening it to the upper surface of the insole. The assembly may constitute a separate article of manufacture, as will now be described.

The gliding unit incorporated in the present shoe comprises a glider ply at 30 which rests upon and slides upon .the upper surface of the insole. Mounted on this is a substantially coextensive cushion 3| andon top of the cushion is a substantial coextensive finishing ply 32. At least two plies are desirable.

In the initial prefabrication of this unit, the

only connection between the several plies may be a piece of binding tape 33 and the stitching 34 which holds such tape in place, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This tape may extend only around the toe portion of the unit. It finishes off the unit in such a way as to give it an attractive appearance when viewed through an opening 35 in the upper 20 at the toe of the shoe.

The fabric used at 32 to constitute finishing ply of Athe glider unit may desirably comprise the fabric known commercially as faille,v preferably having the ribs disposed transversely, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the engagement of the ribs with the bottom of the wearers foot will assure the movement of the glider unit with the foot, sliding upon the insole I5. The glider unit is materially shorter than the insole, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, so as to leave room for the sliding action. Upon' completion of the glider unit, it may be fastened to the insole I5 by transverse stitching at 36. Either the tension of the stitching should compress the cushion 3I or the glider unit should be skived at its rear margin to reduce its thickness so that it tapers off as the insole rises at the shank of the shoe. It will be noted that the metal reinforcing member I8 extends below the cushion provided by the gliding unit before the end, while the sock lining overlaps the glider unit.

It is possible to invert the glider unit, having the glider ply 30 uppermost and the fabric ply 32 resting upon the insole. This is illustrated in Fig. 7. If this is done, the ribs of the faille fabric (assuming faille fabric to be used) should preferably run longitudinally of the shoe, as indicated in Fig. 7 instead of transversely thereof as indicated in Fig. 5. Each rib will thereupon act as a runner to facilitate the sliding of the glider unit upon the insole. I

If the insole is not skived before the lining and upper are lasted about it, as indicated in Fig, 3, there will be more space between the insole I5 and th'e outsole 23. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 6. The additional space made available in this manner accommodates a second cushion at 38 which may be extended below the end of the metal reenforcing member I8. Thus the cushion 38 protects such member from cutting through the outsole 23 while th'e cushion 3| of the glider unit prevents the end of the metal member I8 from being perceptible to the foot of the wearer of the shoe. It is deemed advantageous to have the end of the metal reenforcing member confined between upper and lower cushions, whether such member is above or below piece I 1.

The construction sh'own in Figs. 8 and 9 is generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 1 except that a metatarsal button is incorporated at 40 between the centralportion of the insole I5 and the superimposed portion of the glider unit which comprises glider ply 30, cushion 3l and finishing ply 32. As best shown in Fig. 8, the stitching at 36D which' connects the glider unit to the insole starts at the slide of the assembly and makes a circuit about the metatarsal cushion 40, thence passing tangentially to the other side of the assembly. Where stitching thus passes through' the cushion of a glider unit and is tightened under substantial tension, a metatarsal support is provided by the bulging of the cushion 3I within the stitching, even if the supplemental button 40 is absent. Where the button is present, the stitching augments thel effect. At the same time, the cushion or cushions are preferably located immediately over the end of the reenforcing memhas heretofore been no convenient way of. keeping clean the surfaces contacted bythe wearers hosiery in open toed shoes. By employing a hat type of. glove. fastenerv connection. including the.` post portion 42 mounted the glider unit andthe socket` portion 431m the insole, as indicated in Fig. lil, the wearer at any time remove the glider unit either permanently or to clean th'e surfaces contacted bythe wearers hosiery in the forepart of the shoe, 'or to repl'acclirt;` with another.,

i In the construction shownin Fig. 11, a piece of flexible ribbon 44 is marginally stitched at 45 to. the insole and: marginally stitched at 4:6 to :the glider unit toprovide a flexible connection.. While this does not permit the ready removal of the glider unit, it does facilitate turning the glider unit back in `the shoe to expose its face. It also facilitates the free movement 'of the glider unit. upon the forward portion of the insole. y

I have found that a maximum of freedom of movement of the glider unit upon the insole occurs when the iiexibility of-th'e insoleis increased at the shank with reference toits e'xibility in the forepart of the shoe. When the shoe is worn, the bending tendsl to occur at the shank, causing member filler;` Either or both of theplies 55, 55, maybe omitted, if desired. `These two plies approximate the thickness ofthe inturned marginsA of' the lining `and upper and consequentlyassure a. relatively ifo very substantial movement-of. the glider unit forwith the forward shank, such connection being achieved in any desired way. As. illustrated, the connection is made by stitching 36, as in the dis` closureofFigZ.. t i

Also illustrated in Fig. i2: is a featurethat may be.l incorporated in the devices shown in any one of the other views; the article of `manufacture which comprises, the insole and the gliding unit also includes a stiifenng ply Il attachedvto the assembly by the. stitching thestitches extending through the gliding unit and also through the, insole t5 to engage thegstiffening piece I1.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated. a shoe of tio-n. l l I In this construction, as is; well known, a skeleton f* insole: 5B is split from theou'tsole 5| at the shank and heel and includes a rand portion 52 split from thev outsole 5| about the 4bal-liportion 513 of` the outsole, such ball portion being left the full thickness, of the blank from Which the two soles are formed. The. insole throughout th'e heel and shank portion` and the rand portions to which the upper 20 and lining ISJare lasted is of substantially uniform. thickness and continuons from. end to end of theshoe. Where the rand runs out at the ball of the shoe, it is, of. course, skived at 54Y to reduce its thickness complementarily tothe ii'atxsurface for the insole and an absence of any perceptible ridge where: the: skived inner margin. of the` insole laps the full ball portion. 53 of the outsole.

Upon the bed thus formed, comprising theran-d' of the insole and the plies 55 and 56 where these cross the ball portion of the outsole, I mount my prefabricatedglider unit. In this particular construction, .the prefabricated glider unit may constitute a top ply of fabric or the like, an intermediatecushion ply and a. bottom ply of' fiber or the like, it being understoodthat other materials may be substituted. The prefabricated unit may be secured at its skived rear portion adel jacentthe shank of the shoe by the stitching at 5l and this may, if desi-red, be lapped by the, sock lining 58.

. As suggested in Fig. 15, any one of the gliding units* used `in the various constructions herein disclosed may comprise only two `plies whereof the top ply 59fwould constitute leather, ber, plastic or fabric and the. lower ply 60 would com.- prise a cushion'. In this construction, the deformation'of the cushion, rather than any lack of friction between the glider unit and the insole; would permit relative movement between at le'ast the top ply of the glider unit and the sole structure `of the shoe.

The construction shown in Fig. 16l is very Vsimilar to that shown in Fig. 13, but the sock i shoe at` the shank portion.'

In all of `the `various constructions"embodying` thisinvention, `the insole is preferably continuous f and of substantially uniform thickness: throughoutl .(except where skived marginally).

This is important to the" construction of a` sturdy'.

and well built shoeof: the type illustrated. Yet

l it is possible, insuch a shoe,` to provide a glider gradually increasing .thickness of theoutsol-e at unit becausefthe said unitl is separatelyfabricated and later connected to the insole between the shank and the forepart. The relationship between the cushion and theglider unit and the shank reenforcement is advantageous in all of the constructions shown and not only gives longer life to the shoe by protecting the insole and outsole from thefshank` reenforcement, but also makes the shoe more comfortable and eri-- hances the metatarsal support.

No particular materials are required.. The out* sole and the insole Willusuaily be made of leather, but rubber, iiber or composition may be substituted. Similar materials may be used to makeup thegliding ply 39, or plastics may be used for this purpose, it being desirable that whatever material is. employed `should be sufficiently and have a suiiciently low co efficient oi friction upon the insole so that` it will slide under the weight of the wearers foot without tending to buckle or wrinkle.l

stifening, means prevents the insole from yield# ing'greatly. Most oil the flexing of the shoe/during-walking occurs immediately ahead of the end of the shank stiifening means. Accordingly, the connection of a glider unit to the insole at or immediately adjacent this point creates a maximum of the desired sliding movement.

It will, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that the various features disclosed herein are interchangeable. The metal reenforcement used as apart of the shank stifiening means may be located either above or below the bei' shank stiflener, or omitted entirely, as desired. The metatarsal button shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be used in any of the other constructions, as may the glove fastener type of connection illustrated in Fig. 10, or the flexible band 44 of Fig. 11, or the transversely slit insole, or attached stiiTening piece l1 illustrated in Fig. 12, all of these constructions being usable optionally in the shoe of Fig. 1.

I claim:

1. In a cement lasted shoe, the combination with an insole, an upper lasted about said insole throughout the shoe and cemented to the insole at the forepart, and an outs-ole cemented beneath the insole and upper, of a prefabricated glide unit resting free on the insole at the forepart of the shoe and comprising a cushion ply and at least one other ply, said unit having a rear terminus at the shank, and stitching extending transversely of the insole through all of said plies and connecting the rear`terminus of said unit to the insole at the shank.

2. The shoe of claim 1, including, in further combination, a binding tape extending about the margins of the several plies of the glide unit, at least at the toe.

3. In a cement lasted shoeythe combination with an insole, an upper lasted about said insole throughout the shoe and cemented to the insole at the forepart, and an outsole cemented beneath the insole and upper, of a prefabricated glide unit resting free on the insole at the forepart of the shoe and comprising top and bottom plies and an intervening cushion, and stitching through all of said plies connecting said unit to the insole at the shank under tension sufficient to taper the thickness of the glide unit at the shank, and a sock lining extending from the heel and lapping said unit at the shank over said stitching.

4. In a shoe having an insole, the combination therewith of a separately prefabricated glide unit positioned on the insole in the forepart of the shoe and fastened to the insole at the shank immediately adjacent the forepart, said unit comprising a cushion ply and at least one other ply, shank stiffening means including a metal member underlying the insole from the heel beneath the shank, an upper cement lasted marginally about the insole at the forepart, a cushion filler beneath the insole and within the lasted margins of the upper, and an outsole cement lasted to said upper margins, the said member tending above the cushion iiller and beneath the cushion of the glide unit whereby to be cushioned both upwardly and downwardly.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insole is more iiexible immediately forwardly of the connection of the glide unit therewith than elsewhere throughout the forepart of the'insole.

6. A shoe comprising an insole having a toe, a forepart, a shank, and a heel portion, in combination with an upper and a lining cement lasted about the margin of the forepart of the insole, shank stiffener means underlying the heel and shank of the insole, the upper and lining being tack lasted to the insole and said means at the shank and heel portion, a sole and heel applied below the insole and the lasted portions of the lining and upper, said sole being cemented to the upper, and a prefabricated glide unit in the shoe free of the insole forepart to and from the toe and connected to the insole adjacent the juncture of vshank and forepart, said unit comprising top and bottom plies and an intervening cushion, the bottom ply bein-g freely slidable on the insole and the top ply being transversely ribbed to increase the positive engagement of the wearers foot therewith.

7. A shoe comprising an insole having a toe, a forepart, a shank, and a heel portion, in combination with an upper and a lining cement lasted about the margin of the forepart of the insole, shank stiiener means underlying the heel and shank of the insole, the upper and lining being tack `lasted to the insole and said means at the shank and heel portion, a sole and heel applied below the insole and the lasted portions of the lining and upper, said sole being cemented to the upper, and a prefabricated glide unit in the shoe free of the insole forepart to and from the toe and connected to the insole adjacent the juncture of shank and forepart, the upper being open at the toe and the unit having a marginal binding at its toe portion.

8. A shoe comprising an insole having a toe, a forepart, a shank, and a heel portion, in combination with an upper and a lining cement lasted about the margin of the forepart of the insole, shank stiifener means underlying the heel and shank of the insole, the upper and lining being tack lasted to the insole and said means at the shank and heel portion, a sole and heel applied below the insole and the lasted portions of the lining and upper, said sole being cemented to the upper, and a prefabricated glide unit in the shoe free of the insole forepart to and from the toe and connected to the insole adjacent the juncture of shank and forepart, the unit lapping the 'shank stiffening means, and a sock lining extending from the heel portion of the insole lapping the said unit.

9. A shoe comprising an insole having a toe, a fore part, a shank, and a heel portion, in combination with an upper cement-lasted about the margin of the fore part of the insole, shank stiiener means underlying the heel and shank of the insole, the upper being lasted to the insole and said means at the shank and heel portion, a sole and heel applied below the insole and the lasted portions of the upper, said sole being cemented to the upper, and a prefabricated glide unit connected to the insole adjacent the juncture of shank and fore part and comprising top and bottom plies and an intervening cushion and a binding about at least a part of the margins of said plies, the unit lapping the stifiener means at the shank, and the connection between the unit and the'insole comprising transverse stitching extending through the several plies of the unit under tension suiiicient to reduce the thickness of the unit at its rear end; together with a sock lining extending from the heel of the shoe and lapping the unit.

l0. The shoe of claim 1 in which shank stiffeningr means is laminated with the insole at the shank and the prefabricated glide unit is connected by said stitching not only with the insole but with said shank stiffening means.

11. The shoe set forth in claim 3 in which the insole is a skeleton insole having a central opening, the Sole and insole being complementarily formed from a single blank, and the prefabricated glide unit spanning the opening in the insole. Y

12. The shoe set forth in claim 1 in Whichthe outsole has a full thickness ball portion and is of reduced thickness marginally at its fore part and throughout its shank and heel portions, the insole having an opening complementarily to the ball portion of the outsole and having-a rand extending about the reduced thickness marginal and shank and heel portions of the outsole.

` 13. The shoe set forth in claim 3 in which the outsole has a full thickness `hall portion and is of reduced thickness marginally at its fore part and throughout its shank and heel portions, the insole comprising a skeleton insole having an opening complementary to the ballportion of the outsole, and a rand extending about the reduced thickness marginal portion of the outsole, the insole overlying the shank and heel portion of the outsole, the prefabricated glide unit spanning the opening in the skeleton insole, together with at least one ply of material marginally uni y tion and the glide unit.

JOSEPH H. EVERSTON. 

